Nucleic Acids Structure Minitutorial

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

With the master molecule of heredity, deoxyribonucleic acid (or DNA), so frequently mentioned in the media — in connections ranging from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) applications (e.g., criminology, medical diagnoses) to cloning and art [1112] — it is difficult to imagine today that it was only a few decades ago when Watson and Crick reported their description of the DNAdouble helix [1354–1356]! Based on analysis of DNA fiber diffraction patterns and Chargaff’s rules, they described a spiral image of an orderly helix — two intertwined polynucleotide chains, with a sugar/phosphate backbone on the exterior and pairs of hydrogen-bondednitrogenous bases in the center. See [622] for a historical perspective of this discovery, including the contribution of all key players (a capsule of which is given in Chapter 1), and anniversary issues of DNA, for example issued in 2003 in many journals (e.g., Nature Vol. 421 and Science Vol. 300) at the occasion of DNA’s golden anniversary.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInterdisciplinary Applied Mathematics
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages129-162
Number of pages34
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Publication series

NameInterdisciplinary Applied Mathematics
Volume21
ISSN (Print)0939-6047
ISSN (Electronic)2196-9973

Keywords

  • Double Helix
  • Helix Axis
  • Major Groove
  • Minor Groove
  • Torsion Angle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Computational Mathematics
  • Computational Theory and Mathematics
  • Management Science and Operations Research

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